West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

Adaptability Is Key as Drought Persists Across Texas Rangelands

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Across much of Texas, drought remains a defining challenge for rangeland managers. A recent AgriLife Today article highlights an important reality for producers: while some areas have seen timely rainfall, much of the state is still managing through ongoing drought conditions, and adaptability remains critical for long-term rangeland resilience.

👉 Read the full AgriLife Today article: https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2026/05/19/adaptability-and-managing-for-rangeland-resilience-remain-key-as-drought-covers-much-of-the-state/

A cowboy on horseback rides through a dry, grassy field with cattle grazing in the background under a pale sky.A Mixed Picture Across the State
Texas rangelands are experiencing a wide range of conditions this year. Some regions, including parts of the Cross Timbers, Concho Valley, and Hill Country, are seeing improved forage production due to spring rainfall. These areas present an opportunity for producers to allow pastures time to recover after extended drought conditions.

At the same time, much of the state remains in drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor cited in the article, 81 percent of Texas is experiencing some level of drought. While fewer areas are in the most extreme categories compared to last year, drought is still widespread and continues to impact forage availability and management decisions.

For producers in the Panhandle, South Texas, and other regions facing more severe conditions, the message is clear: careful evaluation and planning are still essential.

Recovery Starts with Rest
One of the most important takeaways from the article is the value of rest during periods of active plant growth. When moisture is available, and grasses begin to respond, reducing grazing pressure allows plants to rebuild energy reserves.
This recovery period helps promote:

  • Root development
  • Leaf growth
  • Improved plant vigor

Allowing plants time to recover can have long-term benefits for both forage production and overall rangeland health. Resilient rangelands depend on maintaining this balance between use and recovery.

Managing for Resilience, Not Just Production
Producers are not just managing livestock. They are managing ecosystems. The article emphasizes that stewardship of rangeland resources includes maintaining ground cover and building organic matter in the soil.

These practices support essential ecosystem services, including:

  • Forage production for livestock
  • Habitat for wildlife, especially during critical periods
  • Soil health and water infiltration

A focus on resilience helps ensure that rangelands can continue to function through both wet and dry periods.

Drought Planning Still Matters
Even in areas that have received rain, it is important not to assume the drought is over. Conditions can change quickly, and the forage available now may need to carry operations through the remainder of the growing season.

Producers are encouraged to continually evaluate forage availability and compare it to expected needs. This is a key part of any drought contingency plan and helps guide decisions about stocking rates and grazing pressure.

In areas still experiencing severe drought, proactive steps such as adjusting stocking rates or reassessing grazing strategies may be necessary to avoid long-term damage to the land.

A Practical Takeaway for West Texas
For West Texas producers, where variability is the norm and drought cycles are familiar, this message reinforces what many already know. Flexibility is not optional. It is essential.
Whether your operation has received recent rain or is still waiting for relief, the same principles apply:

  • Take advantage of good conditions to build recovery
  • Protect plant health through strategic grazing decisions
  • Monitor forage conditions closely
  • Be prepared to adjust as conditions change

Looking Ahead
Drought will continue to be part of managing rangelands in Texas. While rainfall patterns and seasonal conditions are beyond our control, management decisions are not.

By focusing on adaptability and resilience, landowners and managers can position their operations to better withstand drought and recover more quickly when conditions improve.

Resilient rangelands are built over time with careful management, timely decisions, and a long-term perspective.

The Cost of Prolonged Overgrazing: Ripple Effects on Watershed Health, Rainfall Infiltration, and Ranch Production

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Producers often face tough choices when managing rangeland, especially during drought or market fluctuations. While maximizing livestock numbers might bring short-term profit, prolonged overgrazing can deal lasting damage to the overall health and productivity of the land. One of the most critical, but sometimes overlooked, impacts is how overgrazing disrupts the watershed and reduces rainfall infiltration, setting off a chain reaction that threatens both present and future production.

What Is Overgrazing?

Overgrazing happens when livestock remove more plant material than the land can regenerate, reducing vegetative cover. Without sufficient rest and recovery for grasses and forbs, root systems shrink, soil structure declines, and bare ground increases.

Watershed Function and Why It Matters

A healthy watershed collects, stores, and distributes water efficiently across the landscape. Vegetation intercepts rainfall, slows surface runoff, and helps water infiltrate into the soil, replenishing aquifers and supporting plant growth during dry periods. When this function is degraded, so is the life of a ranch.

The Impact of Overgrazing on Rainfall Infiltration

Intact vegetation and litter (dead plant material) act as a sponge, allowing more rainfall to soak in rather than run off. Texas A&M research consistently shows that overgrazed pastures lose this critical function (Briske et al., 2011).   The results:

  • Increased Bare Soil – without enough cover, droplets hit bare soil directly, compacting it and reducing pore spaces.
  • More Runoff – compacted, crusted soils shed water, sending it downhill rather than storing it for plant growth.
  • Erosion – runoff carries away topsoil, further reducing the land’s ability to support vegetation.

Effects on Production and Range Health

  • Lower Forage Yields – less water stored means less forage growth through the season. Productivity drops, resulting in further pressure to overstock in a vicious cycle.
  • Reliance on Supplemental Feed – with reduced native forage, producers must purchase feed or de-stock, both of which cut into profits.
  • Increased Weed Invasion – bare patches and disturbed soil invite invasive species, which further outcompete desirable native plants.
  • Reduced Drought Resilience – healthy rangeland can buffer drought impacts; degraded rangeland cannot.

Economic and Environmental Tradeoff

“A pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure,” says Dr. Larry Redmon, Professor & Extension Forage Specialist at Texas A&M. Repairing watershed function, restoring infiltration, and rebuilding soil health can take years and significant expense.

Key findings from Texas A&M’s “Rangeland Watershed Management” (B-6136) highlight how managed grazing increases infiltration by 12–60% compared to overgrazed sites.   

Steps for Ranchers

  1. Monitor Utilization – Leave adequate stubble height and ground cover after grazing.
  2. Rest Pastures – Allow for seasonal or rotational rest to restore plant and root health.
  3. Observe Hydrology – Monitor for runoff, erosion, and infiltration after rains.
  4. Consult Local Extension – Texas A&M AgriLife can provide technical assistance and region-specific recommendations.

Conclusion

The hidden cost of overgrazing is the undermining of the ranch’s very foundation which starts and ends with the soil and water resources. By prioritizing range health and managing for watershed function, producers secure not only the current year’s paycheck but the resilience and productivity of their land for years to come.

References

  1. Briske, D.D., et al. (2011). [Rangeland Watershed Management – B-6136] (https://agrilife.org/texasrangelands/files/2011/02/B-6136.pdf), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
  2. What Is a Watershed? (https://wrri.tamu.edu/watersheds/what-is-a-watershed/), Texas Water Resources Institute.

For more infographics and resources, visit AgriLife Extension’s West Texas Rangelands https://agrilife.org/westtexasrangelands/extension-publications/

Are you seeing signs of overgrazing, runoff, or diminished production on your ranch? Contact your county’s AgriLife Extension Office for a site assessment and recommendations today.

What Your Rangeland Is Telling You: If You Know How to Look

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The condition of your rangeland shows how management decisions are affecting it. By paying attention to plant communities, soil cover, and overall structure, land managers can identify potential issues early and respond effectively. Regular observation is one of the most important tools in long-term rangeland stewardship. 

Key Indicators to Watch 

Plant diversity is a strong indicator of rangeland health. A mix of grasses, forbs, cool and warm season species, and varying plant heights often signals a functioning system. Uniform vegetation or dominance by a single species may indicate stress or management imbalance. Think monocultures of Purple Threeawn or Texas Wintergrass.  

Soil surface condition is equally important. Adequate litter and ground cover protect soil from erosion, temperatures, and help retain moisture. Increasing bare ground can signal declining rangeland condition.  Bare ground between bunchgrasses of plants will slowly start to expand, increasing soil movement and soil loss.  

Monitoring Beyond the Growing Season 

Rangeland monitoring does not stop when plants are dormant! Winter and early spring observations can reveal grazing patterns, hoof impact, and areas where pressure may be too concentrated.  Monitoring native perennial grasses during the winter is just as important as monitoring during the growing season, because what you protect in the winter is what jumpstarts new growth this spring.   

Tracking changes season-to-season rather than reacting to a single observation provides a clearer picture of trends and management outcomes.  

Using Monitoring to Guide Decisions 

Monitoring allows managers to make informed adjustments to grazing timing, duration, and intensity. When rangeland conditions are regularly evaluated, management becomes proactive rather than reactive setting pastures off to a great start this spring.  

Integrated Pest Management for Woody Encroachment

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The top 5 woody invasive plant species in the Great Plains Grasslands include; Eastern redcedar, Honey mesquite, Chinese tallow, Ashe juniper, and Redberry juniper. Past brush management efforts have been unable to stop or reverse the loss of grasslands at county, state, or regional scales. Traditional management efforts have assumed that there are tolerable levels of the top five woody pests in grasslands before encroachment becomes a resource concern and mechanical or chemical removal of woody plants will restore a site back to a grassland. Scientists are now recommending more integrated approaches for dealing with woody species and ending the reinvasion cycle in grasslands. 

[Read more…] about Integrated Pest Management for Woody Encroachment

SRM Multidisciplinary Rangeland Ecosystem Services Report

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The Society for Rangeland Management recently released their Rangeland Ecosystem Services Report: Connecting Nature and People. The report includes five key rangeland service topic areas including; food and fiber, water as an ecosystem driver in rangelands, carbon sequestration and security, plant and insect biodiversity, and wildlife habitat provision. 

 

Photo: Rangeland Ecosystem Services Report

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Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands: A Pocket Guide for Planning and Design

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Have you seen the latest Pocket Guide from the Great Plains Grasslands Extension Partnership? This Pocket Guide integrates new guidelines for reducing woody encroachment with a planning process. It is also an important resource that further incorporates the latest, science-based approaches for reducing woody encroachment.

 

 

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Conserving Texas: Quantifying Ecological Return on Investment

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In Texas, close to 95% of the land lies in private ownership, which means relying on collaborative solutions and public-private partnerships to support the stewardship and conservation of natural resources for the public good.

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Statewide Texas Landowner Survey Results

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Did you know that Texas Landowner demographics are surveyed by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI)? This type of information is incredibly valuable and insightful to the changing demographic occurring across Texas working landscapes. 

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